Learning a language can’t be that hard — every baby in the world manages to do it in a few years. Figuring out how the process works is another story. Linguists have devised elaborate theories to ...

All languages strive to be efficient According to an influential theory in cognitive science, all human language is shaped by the need to be able to communicate effectively. At the same time, a ...

In a study, researchers tested having AI agents play a communication game with each other to mimic how humans develop language. They had an AI agent communicate a colour via a symbol, and the ...

A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford and the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) has found that large language models (LLMs)—the AI systems behind chatbots like ChatGPT—generalize ...

Can a computer learn a language the way a child does? A recent study sheds new light on this question. The researchers advocate for a fundamental revision of how artificial intelligence acquires and ...

Lauren: Learning a new language seems like a big challenge in the beginning, and that’s because it is. Many of us started our language learning in the classroom, where we’re taught through ...

Students learn academic content because they need it to solve the problem in front of them. Math becomes a language for ...

Learning French through a language learning app has helped me connect with my friends, enhance my skills, and more. I’ve tried learning different languages throughout my life, and didn’t have much ...

A new study suggests that everyday multilingual habits—from chatting with neighbors to revisiting a childhood language—may help preserve memory, attention, and brain flexibility as we age. An ...

Karen Roehr-Brackin received funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust (grant reference SRG23\230787) which supported the research project reported here. If you’ve always wanted to learn a new ...

Ellen Garland received funding from the following grants for this work: Royal Society University Research Fellowship (UF160081 and URF\R\221020), Royal Society Research Fellows Enhancement Award ...

Language learning apps like Duolingo are useful, but they have their limits. They're ideal for getting started with a new language, beefing up vocabulary, practicing skills, and even having fun ...